Volvo Ocean Race – Team SCA progressively extends its lead

by Volvo Ocean Race on 9 Jun 2015 Volvo Ocean Race – It’s been a magenta day with Team SCA progressively extending its lead.

The girls were 5.5 nautical miles ahead of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing this morning. They’re now 8.1nm ahead of Team Vestas Wind, who climbed from sixth to second place through the day.

At 0800 UTC, when the new breeze started to fill in, Team SCA was 6nm east of the west pack, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, MAPFRE, Team Brunel and Team Alvimedica.

But the 100º+ wind shift to the right happened more suddenly for Sam Davies’ crew than for the guys to the west.

While in the new breeze, the wind then shifted to the left around 1030 UTC. That time, the shift was more gradual for Team SCA, who tacked to port two hours after to cover the fleet.

This morning, Dongfeng Race Team had to peel the masthead zero (MH0) to repair a rip caused by a spreader during a gust. Not an ideal timing to lose ground!

In the last couple of hours, we could see the fleet tacking along the Portuguese coast. Later in the afternoon the boats stayed closer to land where the wind acceleration came into play.

Team SCA is now about to enter Spanish waters.

Tomorrow morning, the fleet will reach the corner of the Galician coast where the seven boats will find 20 knots of breeze and a rough sea state. The Cape Finisterre and Costa da Morte will welcome the fleet by sunrise.

And check out the result of the B&G Navigators’ Prize for leg seven HERE.

Leader: Team SCA
Wind speed: 12.5 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 9.1 knots
Wind direction: 348º - 6º
Lowest boat speed: MAPF (7.5 knots)
Highest boat speed: ALVI (9.5 knots)
Lowest wind speed: DFRT (13.4 knots)
Highest wind speed: VEST (16 knots)